Drive activity sampling and notification

Abstract

A data storage device activity state is sampled and used to control a remote data storage device activity indicator. A disk drive activity signal is sampled by hardware either based on an edge transition of the activity signal, or on a periodic basis. If the state of the activity signal changes, state change data is sent via a controller to a keyboard. A disk drive status light on the keyboard is controlled by the change data. The controller is a USB host controller that sends the state change data to a USB function that controls the status light.

1. An information handling system comprising:
 a case defining an interior; 
 a central processing unit in the interior of the case; 
 a cursor control device having a housing separate from the case to permit movement of the cursor control device independent of the case; 
 a data storage device mounted on the case; 
 a sampler that detects storage device activity at selected intervals; and 
 a controller providing an activity signal corresponding to any activity of the data storage device; 
 an activity indicator configured to receive the activity signal from the controller; 
 wherein the activity indicator is mounted on the housing of the cursor control device separate from the case in a remote relationship to the data storage device mounted on the case. 
 
   
   
     2. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is coupled to USB function corresponding to the activity indicator. 
   
   
     3. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the data storage device generates an activity signal representative of data transfer. 
   
   
     4. The information handling system of  claim 3  wherein the sampler samples the activity signal generated by the date storage device. 
   
   
     5. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the data storage device is a hard disk drive. 
   
   
     6. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the data storage device is a CD drive. 
   
   
     7. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the cursor control device is a computer mouse. 
   
   
     8. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the cursor control device is a keyboard. 
   
   
     9. A method of providing a remote indication of storage device activity, the method comprising:
 providing an information handling system with a case defining an interior, a storage device mounted on the case, and a central processing unit in the interior of the case; 
 providing a cursor control device having a housing separate from the case to permit movement of the cursor control device independent of the case, an activity indicator mounted on the housing of the cursor control device separate from the case in a remote relationship to the data storage device mounted on the case; 
 sampling activity of the storage device; 
 providing a signal representative of the sampled activity to a controller; and 
 generating commands for the remote activity indicator to control the activity indicator in accordance with the sampled activity. 
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 9  and further comprising providing the commands to the remote activity indicator via a USB bus. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the commands comprising ON and OFF representations. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 9  comprising controlling the activity indicator in accordance with the commands. 
   
   
     13. A keyboard that provides input to an information handling system having a case and an electronic data storage device mounted on the case, the keyboard comprising:
 a housing separate from the case of the information handling system to permit movement of the keyboard independent of the case; 
 a plurality of keys disposed on the housing; and 
 an activity indicator responsive to sampled activity of the electronic data storage device in the information handling system; 
 wherein the activity indicator is mounted on the housing of the keyboard separate from the case in a remote relationship to the electronic data storage device mounted on the case. 
 
   
   
     14. The keyboard of  claim 13  and further comprising a latch to latch the activity indicator to a state consistent with the sampled activity. 
   
   
     15. The keyboard of  claim 14  wherein the activity indicator comprises an LED. 
   
   
     16. The keyboard of  claim 13  and further comprising a USB connector. 
   
   
     17. The keyboard of  claim 16  wherein the activity indicator is responsive to commands generated as a function of the sampled activity. 
   
   
     18. An input device that provides input to an information handling system having a case and an electronic data storage device mounted on the case, the input device comprising:
 a housing separate from the case to permit movement of the housing independent of the case; 
 means for enabling a user to provide input to the information handling system, the enabling means being located on the housing; 
 means for indicating activity of a data storage device in the case of the information handling system; 
 means for sampling activity of the data storage device, the sampling means being located on the case of the information handling system; and 
 means for communicating with the input device, the communicating means being located on the case of the information handling system; 
 wherein the means for indicating activity is mounted an the housing  with the enabling means separate from the case in a remote relationship to the data storage device mounted on the case. 
 
   
   
     19. The input device of  claim 18  wherein the means for communicating with the input device is a USB controller. 
   
   
     20. The input device of  claim 18  wherein the means for communicating with the input device generates commands for controlling the means for indicating activity. 
   
   
     21. The input device of  claim 18  wherein the input device is located remotely from the data storage device. 
   
   
     22. The input device of  claim 18  wherein the means for enabling a user to provide input to the information handling system is a keyboard. 
   
   
     23. The input device of  claim 18  wherein the means for indicating activity comprises a light. 
   
   
     24. A cursor movement controlling mouse device, comprising:
 mouse housing separate from a case of an information handling system such that the mouse housing is movable independent of the case of the information handling system; 
 a cursor input device on the mouse housing, the cursor input device suitable for providing an output indicating movement of a cursor to at the information handling system; 
 a key disposed on the mouse housing, the key suitable for enabling a user to select a cursor position; and 
 an activity indicator disposed on the mouse housing, the activity indicator configured to indicate activity of a data storage CD drive device disposed in the case of the information handling system; 
 and 
 wherein the activity indicator is mounted on the mouse housing separate from the case in a remote relationship to the CD drive device mounted on the case.